A true conservative, a Christian, and a Tennessean, I hope to contribute my two-cents on politics, policy issues, life, and sports.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Government Giveth, and It Taketh Away (from Tennesseans, Texans, Floridians, Alaskans, Nevadans, South Dakotians, Washingtonians, and Wyomingians)

I was relieved to see that the Democrats in Congress were able to put off important issues (as they see them) to the nation such as steroids in baseball and the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act to allow for the patch to temporarily protect over 20 million Americans from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) this upcoming tax season to be brought to the House floor.

Of course, there was a price for some of us. Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic minions decided that it just wasn't fair that those of us who live in states with no state income tax be allowed to deduct our exorbitant sales tax amounts from our federal income tax debt. Of course, I suppose that we should expect that with all of the states being impacted save Washington being states that went red for George W. Bush in 2004.

Thus, the tax relief that was provided for by past Republican-led Congresses sits in D.C. while the Democratic leadership returns home to their respective states. Beautiful.

UPDATE: Oops. It appears that the Democrats actually did bring the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act to the floor for a vote before they decided to fix the massive problem with the AMT. It apparently was more important than providing tax relief to non-state income tax residents, as well.

Here is the press release from Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn:

Washington, D.C. -- As American families prepare for the Holiday season and begin to plan for the New Year, Congressman Marsha Blackburn applauded Republican leadership in passing tax fairness for working Americans, vital healthcare funding for Tennessee children, and partial DSH payment for Tennessee hospitals without a tax increase. Blackburn questions Democrat Leadership's commitment to extending Tennessee's sales tax deductibility.

"After more than eleven months of broken promises, politically-motivated votes and brinksmanship by the Democrat Leadership, I am pleased that Congress was able to provide this critical relief for working Tennesseans."

"Tennessee families can enjoy the holiday season with the full understanding that for the coming fiscal year, the long arm of the Internal Revenue Service's Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) will not extend any further. By stripping out tax increases insisted upon by the Democrat Leadership, House and Senate Republicans were able to pass clean legislation to prevent additional working class families from paying the AMT, which would have hit an additional 23 million American families in the coming year. "

"At the same time, I am equally pleased that Congress finally took action to hold off a pending collapse of the SCHIP system by passing legislation that fully funds the program, provides physicians a .5% payment increase through Medicare, and critical Medicaid DSH payments for Tennessee hospitals until June 30, 2008."

Blackburn blasted Democrat Leaders for returning home for the Holidays without extending the sales tax deductibility that is worth billions for Tennessee families each year.

"While Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues on the coast may not be interested in providing tax relief for Tennessee families who do not pay a state income tax, it is shameful to leave town while Tennessee families are at risk. I hope the Majority returns to Washington in a spirit to negotiate a solution that permanently delivers sales tax deductibility for Tennesseans"